German woman on hantavirus-hit ship to be tested at German hospital, Bild reports

Cruise ship MV Hondius docks off Cape Verde port, as passengers were not allowed off the ship, while health authorities investigated suspected cases of hantavirus aboard the vessel, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, in this screengrab obtained from a video, May 4, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS

A German national who was onboard a luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus will be brought to a hospital in the German city of Duesseldorf for testing, the Bild newspaper reported on Wednesday, adding that the woman presented no symptoms.

The passenger had contact with another German woman who diedon board the ship, Bild said.

According to the German newspaper, a high-risk patient transport unit from the Duesseldorf fire brigade has set off for Amsterdam international airport to collect the woman.

The hospital did not immediately comment on the report.

A planned transfer of three passengers from the cruise ship to specialized aircraft was scheduled to take place on Wednesday morning, Cape Verde time, ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions said earlier.

A Dutch couple have also died since the outbreak manifested in early April, while a British national was evacuated from the ship and is in intensive care in South Africa.